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February 25, 2022 - March 7, 2022A reading from the gospel of Luke 6:39-45
Jesus told his disciples a story, "Why do you see the piece of dust in your friend’s eye, but do not see the big piece of wood in your own? You should remove the wood from your eye first;
then you will see clearly to help your friend."
Jesus also said, "A good tree does not grow bad fruit, and a bad tree does not grow good fruit. A good person will have goodness in his heart and produce goodness, but an bad person will make sad choices;"
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
When Jesus talks to his disciples today, he first talks about seeing a tiny speck of dust in someone else’s eye, but not seeing the big piece of wood in our own. What do you think Jesus means? Jesus is saying it is much easier to notice the sad choices that someone else makes, rather than to see our own sad choices.
What does Jesus tell the disciples they must do? Yes, He is saying we should work hard to make good and happy choices and not worry about what anyone else is doing. We can pray for ourselves and for others so that we all make good choices.
Then Jesus talks about fruit. What does he say? He says that he wants us—his followers—to make good fruit. He says good people make good fruit.
Does that mean he wants us to have fruit growing out of our arms and legs like fruit trees?!? No! That would be silly!
When Jesus says that good people make good fruit, he doesn’t mean fruit that we eat like apples and pears. Jesus means that the things we do and say (our good fruit) that comes from our heart should make God happy and spread his love. We should do good things and make happy choices. We should help people, share what we have, and treat every person like we wanted to be treated. Doesn't this sound like "the golden rule” we heard about last week?
What are some other good things that Jesus would like for us to do? Yes, follow his commands, come to mass, pray, listen to him, read the bible, be part of the church, and serve and love others.
Did you know that the church isn’t just this building? The church is the people––all these people who are here today. These people are a whole orchard of trees bearing fruit for Jesus. Wow! This is so exciting.
This coming Wednesday, March 2nd we will begin Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent is the time we get ready for Easter. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days. On Ash Wednesday we go to mass and receive ashes. The priest will put a cross on our forehead and give us a blessing. During Lent we have the opportunity to be more like Jesus. We can pray for others and do acts of kindness and service to become closer to God. We will be talking more about Lent next Sunday.
Questions for the week:
1) What should we do is someone makes sad choices? (We can pray for them and be a good friend to them by being kind and caring just like Jesus.)
2) Why do you think Jesus wants us to work hard to make happy choices? (Jesus wants us to make happy choices because he loves us and wants us to be his followers.)
3) What can we do to make good “fruit” and be a follower of Jesus? (Pray, come to learn at church, love one another, help each other, serve others, and treat others as we want to be treated)
4) What is Lent and when does it begin? (Lent is the 40 days when we get ready for Easter by praying, fasting, and serving others and it begins with Ash Wednesday.)
Challenge for the week: For Jesus and Me, let's try to say and do things to show kindness and be even more helpful to others. Ask God to help you be extra “fruitful” by sharing your kindness and love with others.
COLORING PAGE
Ash Wednesday Coloring Page
Lenten Cross Countdown
by Catholic Mom
